This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There's only one NHL playoff game Monday, as the Stars are hosting the Blues in Game 3. That also means that today's daily fantasy contests are in showdown style. You will be picking six players from these two teams, and you must have at least one player from both squads. If I put together a lineup, it might look a little something like this.
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL ($10,400)
Tarasenko is the clear top offensive player on the Blues, which makes him worth splashing the bucks. You can afford to have a couple higher-money players, so don't try and get too cute. The Russian has scored at least 33 goals in the last five seasons. He also had two goals in Game 1 of this series, and he's been quite active recently to boot. Over his last 15 games he's notched 60 shots on net.
Jamie Benn, DAL ($10,100)
Even in a "down" year for Benn, he still managed 27 goals. He also has eight points in eight playoff contests. Of the two goalies in action tonight, I have slightly less faith in Jordan Binnington. It's nothing against him, but he is a rookie on the road going up against a Vezina finalist in the opposing goal.
Ben Bishop, DAL ($9,700)
I wanted to get a goalie, and since I believe the Stars will win, I went with Bishop. Well, that and because he had a 1.98 GAA and .934 save percentage this season. He was even better at home, as the American had a 1.90 GAA and .937 save percentage in Dallas' arena.
John Klingberg, DAL ($7,800)
Defensemen are cheaper than forwards and goalies, so you can get Klingberg, the best d-man in this game, for a relatively good price. The Swede had 10 goals and 45 points this season, even though he only played in 64 games. He's also added seven more points in the playoffs. Jordan Binnington had a great regular season, but in the playoffs his save percentage is a more mundane .911.
David Perron, STL ($6,700)
Perron had a surprisingly good year in his return to St. Louis, as he tallied 23 goals and 23 assists in 57 contests. That's earned him a spot on the Blues' top line with Ryan O'Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko. He's also on the top power-play unit now. At this price, a top-line player feels like a good deal.
Vince Dunn, STL ($5,300)
Dunn is cheap, which is one of the main reasons he's in my theoretical lineup. However, he's more than just a guy with a low price tag. The defenseman started 61.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Blues. Dunn also scored 12 goals on 150 shots this season, so he could end up paying off big time.
